Thursday Walkthrough': Einstein, Gaithersburg, Northwest

Football: Only six camps left to visit before the full season preview Sept. 1.

This is the fifth installment of The Gazette's daily, online-only series, "Walkthroughs": first impressions from preseason football camps around Montgomery County. For full-length previews of each of these teams, look for The Gazette Fall Sports Special in the Sept. 1 editions.

Einstein: Titans lay the thunder

After back-to-back 5-5 seasons in Kensington, Einstein head coach Mike Bonavia decided it was time for a change in attitude.

During Thursday morning's lively practice the Titans coaching staff conducted a very physical session. For over an hour, the 32-member squad participated in tackling exercises and the famed full-contact Oklahoma drill, which pits one defender and one offensive player against each other in a confined space.

"I like this group the best of any team I've had," Bonavia said. "They are the most coachable and talented group. ... We found out [they] could hit today."

The highlight of the drill came towards the end, when starting fullback and linebacker Ryan Ferguson and senior Michael Martinez stalemated in the hole with a violent collision that drew several cheers from teammates and coaches.

Senior captain Joel Insilo also provided numerous crowd-pleasing hits. At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, the starting defensive back pleaded with Bonavia to let him play offensive or defensive tackle during the drill. His requests went unfulfilled.

"Everybody was energy and hyped," Insilo said. "[Hitting] is like a preview of who will show up this season for us. ... We are hungry and I'm pretty confident in everybody."

 Kent Zakour

Gaithersburg: Spread the wealth

What stands out in a visit to Gaithersburg is the sheer number of stud receivers whose names head coach Kreg Kephart can rattle off. So, with all those receivers and a third-year varsity quarterback in Zack Fetters ... Is Gaithersburg going to spread it out this year?

"With the small skill people that we have, I think the spread is more advantageous to their attributes," Kephart said. "And if we're able to execute in the spread, it will allow us to take greater advantage of things that they're able to do."

Kephart points out the longtime I-formation practitioners have run spread before; notably, late in games when they needed to score last year, as well as in 2004 with Joey Robinson at quarterback.

But this is by far the most physically imposing group of receivers they've had in that time. Returnees Sylvester Oni (6-foot-4) and Kris Westphall (6-5) are taller than any Trojan lineman. Breakout candidate Simba Gwashavanhu grew from 5-11 to nearly 6-2 in the offseason, and fellow junior Billy Brown (6-3) is up off junior varsity. Brown and Oni double as defensive ends.

 John Y. Wehmueller

Northwest: Good things in threes?

Matt Callahan steps in to become just the fourth starting quarterback at Northwest in the last 10 seasons. As a sophomore, he has a chance to become the Jaguars' third three-year starter under center.

Watching over his shoulder at Thursday's morning practice was the player who started the streak: newly minted assistant coach Ike Whitaker, who led the Jaguars to the 2004 state title as a senior.

Callahan stands about 5-foot-9 and weighs in at maybe 150 pounds, but new head coach Bob Hampton likes his football smarts. He will need them: Hampton and longtime co-conspirator John Zier have installed a complex offense. There is plenty for opponents to defend, but also plenty for Callahan to learn.

"It was a lot at first, it was just hard for my mind to cram it all in," Callahan said. "Ike's been a great help. I'm glad he came back."